How very unfortunate. We were hoping to work with them (the Beer Wholesalers) and come to a compromise. They completely oppose very limited sales for instate microbreweries. The only aspect of our bill that they have not vocally opposed is tastings at the brewery. While that is a nice step in the right direction, it’s simply not enough. We feel that the large beer wholesalers are completely squashing small enterprise. That means no new brewery growth, no increased tax revenue from breweries and very unhappy brewers and customers. So, instead of increasing sales and production at my brewery (and therefore increasing tax dollars, employment, tourist dollars etc), we simply don’t expand. Or perhaps even move to a state where the laws are friendlier and happily give them my money there. Craft beer sales in SC have grown tremendously since we Popped the Cap in 2007.  Instead of keeping the ball rolling and becoming a true craft beer state and tourist destination, we are being held down, treated unfairly and not listening to what the people want.40+ other states that allow some sort of direct brewery sales have reaped the benefits, why not our state?

Can you imagine any other industry where this would be allowed to happen???????